Systems and methods of dispensing water or ice

Abstract

Systems and methods for dispensing water or ice are provided. In particular, a dispensing system can include a sensor configured to detect the presence of a container proximate the dispensing system. The sensor can be further configured to detect a top lip of the container and a level of contents in the container relative to the top lip. When a container is detected, the dispensing system can be configured to dispense water or ice, for instance, responsive to a user input. The dispensing system can be further configured to cease dispensing water or ice when the level of water or ice reaches a threshold level.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dispensing system for dispensing liquid or ice, the system comprising:
 a dispenser defining a dispensing recess, the dispenser comprising a nozzle for dispensing liquid or ice;   a sensor disposed within the dispensing recess, the sensor configured to receive one or more signals indicative of a presence of a container proximate the dispensing recess and a level of contents in the container; and   one or more control devices configured to control the operation of the dispenser, the one or more control devices configured to:
 receive one or more signals from the sensor; 
 detect a level of ice within the container based at least in part on the one or more signals from the sensor; and 
 responsive to detecting the level of ice, determine whether a level of liquid is detected within the container based at least in part on the one or more signals from the sensor; 
 wherein, when a level of liquid is not detected within the container, liquid is dispensed into the container for an initial time period, and wherein, when a level of liquid is detected, liquid is dispensed into the container until the level of liquid rises to a threshold level. 
   
     
     
         2 . The dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more control devices are further configured to control the operation of the dispenser such that the dispenser only dispenses liquid or ice when the presence of the container is detected proximate the dispensing recess. 
     
     
         3 . The dispensing system of  claim 2 , wherein liquid or ice is only dispensed by the dispenser responsive to a user request for liquid or ice. 
     
     
         4 . The dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is an ultrasonic transducer configured to periodically transmit one or more sound waves, and receive one or more reflected sound waves. 
     
     
         5 . The dispensing system of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more reflected sound waves are indicative of at least one surface of the container. 
     
     
         6 . The dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to detect one or more surfaces of the container, and wherein the one or more control devices are configured to distinguish a signal indicative of a top lip of the container from a signal indicative of a lower portion of the container. 
     
     
         7 . The dispensing system of  claim 5 , wherein the one or more control devices are further configured to distinguish a signal indicative of the level of contents in the container from the signal indicative of the lower portion and the signal indicative of the top lip. 
     
     
         8 . The dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more control devices are further configured to determine a height of the container based at least in part on the one or more signals from the sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold level is between about 3 centimeters and about 7 centimeters beneath the top lip of the container. 
     
     
         10 . The dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is positioned in the dispensing recess such that one or more sound waves transmitted by the sensor are transmitted parallel to a stream of liquid or ice being dispensed by the dispenser. 
     
     
         11 . The dispensing system of  claim 1 , wherein the initial time period corresponds to an amount of time until liquid is detected in the container. 
     
     
         12 . A refrigerator appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet defining a chilled chamber for receipt of food articles;   a door mounted to the cabinet, the door configured for permitting selective access to the chilled chamber of the cabinet;   a dispenser mounted to the door, the dispenser defining a dispensing recess and including a nozzle for dispensing liquid or ice:   a sensor positioned within the dispensing recess configured to detect the presence of a container proximate the dispenser and a level of contents within the container; and   one or more control devices configured to control the operation of the dispenser, the one or more control devices configured to:
 receive one or more signals from the sensor, wherein at least one of the one or more signals is indicative of a level of ice within the container; and 
 responsive to receiving the at least one signal indicative of the level of ice, control the operation of the dispenser such that when a level of liquid is not detected in the container, liquid is dispensed for an initial time period, and when a level of liquid is detected in the container, liquid is dispensed until the level of liquid in the container reaches a threshold level. 
   
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the sensor is an ultrasonic sensor configured to emit sound waves and receive reflected sound waves. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the reflected sound waves comprise sound waves reflected off of one or more surfaces of a container proximate the dispenser. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the container has a geometry comprising a top lip and a lower portion below the top lip extending outwardly beyond the top lip. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more control devices are configured to distinguish a signal indicative of the top lip from a signal indicative of the lower portion. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more control devices are configured to control the operation of the dispenser such that liquid or ice is dispensed only in response to a request from a user while the presence of a container is detected proximate the dispenser. 
     
     
         18 . A method of dispensing liquid or ice into a container, the method comprising:
 receiving one or more signals from a sensor, the sensor configured to detect data indicative of one or more surfaces associated with a container positioned proximate a dispenser, the dispenser configured to dispense liquid or ice into the container;   detecting a presence of the container based at least in part on the one or more received signals;   determining a level of ice within the container based at least in part on the one or more received signals; and   responsive to determining the level of ice, dispensing liquid into the container based at least in part on a user input, wherein, when a level of liquid is not detected in the container, liquid is dispensed for an initial time period, and when a level of liquid is detected in the container, liquid is dispensed until the level of liquid in the container reaches a threshold level.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the container has a geometry including a top lip and a lower portion below the top lip extending outwardly beyond the top lip. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising distinguishing at least one signal indicative of the lower portion from at least one signal indicative of the level of liquid within the container.